Table 1.
Symptoms and Criteria of the Three Diagnostic Algorithms for PTSD
| DSM-IV [5] | PTSD-AA [6] | DSM-5, subtype for children 6 years and younger [1] |
|---|---|---|
| Criterion A1 | Criterion A1 | Criterion A1 |
| Criterion A2: Response to event involves intense fear, helplessness or horror | Criterion A2 not required | Criterion A2 not required |
| B. Intrusion (1 required) | B. Intrusion (1 required) | B. Intrusion (1 required) |
| 1. Recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections | 1. Recurrent and intrusive recollections, not required to be distressing | 1. Recurrent and intrusive recollections, not required to be distressing |
| 2. Recurrent distressing dreams of the event | 2. Recurrent distressing dreams of the event | 2. Recurrent distressing dreams of the event |
| 3. Dissociation (e.g., flashbacks) | 3. Dissociation (e.g., flashbacks) | 3. Dissociation (e.g., flashbacks) |
| 4. Intense psychological distress at reminders | 4. Intense psychological distress at reminders | 4. Intense psychological distress at reminders |
| 5. Physiological reactivity at reminders | 5. Physiological reactivity at reminders | 5. Physiological reactivity at reminders |
| C. Avoidance/numbing (3 required) | C. Avoidance/numbing (1 required) | C. Avoidance/negative alterations in cognitions and mood (1 required) |
| 1. Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations | 1. Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations | 1. Efforts to avoid activities, places or physical reminders |
| 2. Efforts to avoid activities, places or people | 2. Efforts to avoid activities, places or people | 2. Efforts to avoid people, conversations or interpersonal situations |
| 3. Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma | 3. Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma | 3. Increased frequency of negative emotional states |
| 4. Diminished interests in significant activities | 4. Diminished interests, emphasize play constriction | 4. Diminished interests, including play constriction |
| 5. Feelings of detachment from others | 5. Socially withdrawn behavior | 5. Socially withdrawn behavior |
| 6. Restricted range of affect | 6. Restricted range of affect | 6. Reduction in expression of positive emotions |
| 7. Sense of foreshortened future | 7. Sense of foreshortened future | |
| D. Hyperarousal (2 required) | D. Hyperarousal (2 required) | D. Hyperarousal (2 required) |
| 1. Difficulty falling or staying asleep | 1. Difficulty falling or staying asleep | 1. Difficulty falling or staying asleep |
| 2. Irritability, angry outbursts | 2. Irritability, includes excessive temper | 2. Irritability, angry outbursts, includes extreme temper tantrums |
| 3. Difficulty concentrating | 3. Difficulty concentrating | 3. Difficulty concentrating |
| 4. Hypervigilance | 4. Hypervigilance | 4. Hypervigilance |
| 5. Exaggerated startle response | 5. Exaggerated startle response | 5. Exaggerated startle response |